This article, in the Roanoke Times, should be a heads up to everyone in the country.
Roanoke, Virginia is in a very temperate region, with winter temperatures falling from slightly below 20 degrees and rising to a high of over 100 degrees, with an annual average of between 60 degrees and 80 degrees.
With the startling statement:
No matter how you heat, be prepared for costs to rise significantly this winter.
our local newspaper is delivering a dire warning and begging for people to begin to prepare for the coming Fall/Winter season.
It's likely your home heating bill will rise this winter.
And it may not matter which conventional fuel you heat your home with -- gas, electricity or oil.
Roanoke Gas is urging customers to prepare for large seasonal outlays compared with last year, as prices could be up as much as 50 percent this winter.
"If natural gas and other energy costs rise as much as currently predicted and winter temperatures are close to normal, home heating bills could reach record levels," company president and chief executive officer John Williamson said in a letter with June bills.
Williamson said he was aware he was delivering unwelcome news. But he said he would rather not have customers find out when they open their December or January bills and are juggling credit card statements bearing holiday purchases.
This dramatic increase will also have a profound effect on those organizations which provide heating aid to those in the community who can least afford the costs.
Roanoke Area Ministries in Roanoke, a charitable organization with a program that helps people pay their energy bills to avoid eviction or loss of service...is unlikely to have the money to give significantly larger assistance checks this coming winter if clients owe more.
"We'll just have to do the best we can and take care of everyone who comes in who qualifies for help," said Jo-Anne Woody, administrative assistant.
Similarly, the HeatShare program in Roanoke is anticipating having to stretch its funds further this winter.
The Salvation Army program, which channels donated funds to people struggling to pay natural gas bills, will need more donations to help more people, said Jonathan Lee, director of development and marketing.
This is one of those political and economic issues that must not be dismissed as something you will "think about tomorrow". Even on a warm summer Forth of July, you only have about 120 days to make the changes you will need to make in order to not find yourself on the receiving end of a $300 or $400 a month increase in your heating bill this winter.
- Consider reducing the amount of space you use in your house, or apartment, and close off those areas that you will not need to heat.
- Check all windows for heat loss. Go to the local building supply and buy rolls of window and door insulation foam. Install to reduce heat loss.
- Pay for that heating unit servicing you have been putting off for a couple of years. It's more efficient and cheaper to run when it's tuned, and the check up will cost a great deal less than a 50% to 65% jump in your energy costs over a winter.
- Got great hardwood floors? Consider area rugs to cover as much of the floor as possible. That will reduce heat loss, considerably. (Yes, yes, I know. But, you can take them up next Spring.)
- Check the homes of friends and relatives and aid them in making the changes necessary to reduce heat loss. The elderly, particularly those on fixed incomes, might not have the resources, or physical strength, to make the changes needed.
- Forget everything you have ever seen on HGTV. The "new" window treatment may well be a thick blanket. Plan ahead, most expressly if you live in a cold climate.
And, finally...
7. Find a few buck, locate the charity or organization in your area that gives heating support to those in need, and help them prepare for the winter just ahead.
There has been a lot of moaning and groaning (me, included) at the huge jump in gasoline prices, and the ever mounting price of crude on the Exchange. However, being creatures of the moment, most of us are loathed to start thinking 3 or 4 months ahead. Particularly on a Summer week-end devoted to outdoor bar-b-que, cold beer, and a day by the lake/sea. I am grateful that my semi-local rag thought to raise this issue now since it is going to take some planning and work to insure my house can be heated at reasonable cost - and doesn't increase the C02 I spew.